# How Has Improvisation in the Kitchen Led to a New Menu Favorite?
- Published: 2024-07-03
- Author: [foodnews.io](https://foodnews.io/author/foodnews-io.md)
- Topics: [Q&A](https://foodnews.io/qa.md)
- Source: https://foodnews.io/qa/how-has-improvisation-in-the-kitchen-led-to-a-new-menu-favorite/
- Publisher: Food News
- Special Ingredient Shortage Inspires New Dish
- Leftover Couscous Sparks Scallop Success
- Peppermint Enhances Roasted Zucchini
- Customer Request Leads to Top-Selling Mocha
Special Ingredient Shortage Inspires New Dish
We were running a day-long special on a Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The chef didn't order enough of one crucial ingredient, so we ran out by 4 p.m. As we 86'd it, the owner came in and wanted to know what the new special was going to be for the remainder of the day. It was an American-style restaurant with many styles on the menu, so we quickly came up with four options based on what we had on hand. The four-cheese crawfish quesadillas with a Cajun spinach cream sauce appetizer was created, ordered, and demanded until it became a staple.
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Leftover Couscous Sparks Scallop Success
So for us in the kitchen at Dirty Habit DC, inspiration comes from a lot of different avenues. Our scallop dish that is on the menu is a great example of that. Originally, the dish started with us just trying to get rid of leftover couscous that we had in storage for family meal. I added a different sauce to a small portion of it, and the flavors, along with the textures, were amazing. Since then, the dish has evolved and become one of our most popular starters.
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Peppermint Enhances Roasted Zucchini
Improvisation led to a delightful discovery with a simple, yet flavorful twist. Most kids and some adults aren't fans of zucchini's strong taste. One day, I decided to experiment by adding peppermint to our roasted zucchini recipe. The strong, refreshing taste of peppermint perfectly balanced and suppressed the zucchini's flavor. This impromptu addition was a hit, turning a disliked dish into a new menu favorite. The refreshing twist of peppermint made all the difference!
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Customer Request Leads to Top-Selling Mocha
When we first opened, we had Iced Chocolate and Iced Coffee on the menu, separately. One of our regular customers asked if he could have them mixed as a mocha. It was delicious! It made the menu a few weeks later, and now it's our top-selling drink!
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